Charter Schools In New York Assembly: Democratic State Legislators Show Weak Support, Republicans Strongest, Report Says

Those who received higher ratings voted in favor of allowing charter schools to enhance services provided to students with special needs, lifting the cap on the number of charter schools that can open in the state, and extending the length of time charter schools can operate before requiring renewal.

Here’s a breakdown of the average pro-charter school scores for legislators by party and house:

Senate Republicans: 87 percent

Senate Democrats: 57 percent

Senate Independent Democrats: 75 percent

Assembly Democrats: 34 percent

Assembly Republicans: 57 percent

Ten senators received perfect ratings of 100 percent on the basis of supporting every pro-charter bill and opposing every anti-charter bill. Only two members of the state Assembly received a perfecting rating.

Jason Brooks, FERA’s Director of Reesarch, noted in a press statement that despite public charter schools’ success in educating disadvantaged student populations in New York, they continue to elicit criticism from teachers unions and “defenders of the status quo.”

He added, “shutting down chronically-failing schools and replacing them with new innovative public charter schools offer one of the greatest reforms for empowering families with the quality educational options they deserve.”

Charter Schools In New York Assembly: Democratic State Legislators Show Weak Support, Republicans Strongest, Report Says

The Most Beautiful and Imaginative Public Schools in the World

The Most Beautiful and Imaginative Public Schools in the World

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Kindergarten Kekec by Arhitektura Jure Kotnik -- Ljubljana, Slovenia

An extension of a typical Slovenian prefab kindergarten from the '80s, the colorful, interactive design is a response to the school's lack of play equipment. The addition's three exterior walls are made of "toy slats": natural wooden planks that the kids can play with to "get to know different colors, experience wood as a natural material and constantly change the appearance of their kindergarten, all at the same time."
via <a href="http://www.flavorwire.com/320057/the-most-beautiful-and-imaginative-public-schools-in-the-world?all=1">Flavorwire</a>
Image credit: Miran Kambič via <a href="http://housevariety.blogspot.com/2011/03/kindergarten-kekec-by-arhitektura-jure.html#.UDHC1dDl3nQ">House Variety</a>